New Delhi: In the opulent interiors of ZLB23 at the Leela Palace, Bengaluru, velvet curtains and sparkling chandeliers draw heavily on the elegance of Kyoto and the Prohibition era. This speakeasy—a secret bar that has everyone talking—is the only Indian bar to make it onto Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list. Yet, it’s not standing alone.
Four Indian bars have also made it to the extended 51-100 list—The Bombay Canteen (59) in Mumbai, and Lair (68), Sidecar (84), and Home (96), all in New Delhi. This growing recognition shows how Indian bars have moved beyond the traditional cut-and-paste menu—Cosmopolitan, Piña Colada, Margarita, Sex on the Beach, Long Island Iced Tea, Bloody Mary, and Moscow Mule—to a vibrant, innovative cocktail culture. “India’s bar scene has become a melting pot of global trends and local flavours, with mixologists experimenting with indigenous ingredients and international techniques,” said Rohan Carvalho, founder of Bar Square Academy of Bartending.
The rise of a globally travelled middle class with a discerning palate has fuelled the demand for high-quality cocktails and unique drinking experiences. At the recent awards ceremony in Hong Kong, bartender Yangdup Lama, the co-owner of New Delhi’s Sidecar, was honoured as the Roku Industry Icon 2024. His bar, Sidecar, was named the best bar in India last year.
“This award is a nod to the craft of bartending in India. It is also an acceptance. Being recognised as the icon of the Asian .